MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang urged those “defrauded” by the Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. (KAPA) to file charges against the Surigao del Sur-based religious corporation.
“Those defrauded will have to file cases against this owner and they can recover,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Duterte, in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, ordered the closure of Kapa Ministry over allegations that the group was involved in a pyramiding scam and violated securities laws.
READ: Duterte wants Kapa, other investment scams probed, shut down
A lawyer for Kapa Ministry, Pastor Koel Apolinario, has accused Quiboloy of urging Duterte to instigate a crackdown against the investment scheme of the religious group.
“The issue is: Has this particular [group] defrauded those who invested? That’s the issue,” Panelo said.
“Dapat talaga pasarado (It should be closed down) because it’s a continuing crime of estafa,” he added.
Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, said those defrauded should file charges to recover their money.
“They should. They should in order to recover (their money) and so that you will put behind bars those people who have been swindling them,” he said. (Editor: Eden Estopace)